Rotary engine.



No. 789,087. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905. s. J. LAWRENCE. ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-$11331 1.

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No. 789,037. v

PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

s. J. LAWRENCE.

ROTARY ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.6, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY J OHN LAWRENCE, OF RICHMOND, ENGLAND.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 789,037, dated May 2, 1905.

Application filed September 6, 1904. Serial No. 223,484.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY JOHN LAWRENCE, engineer, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at 19 Darrell road, Richmond, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, applicable also to rotary pumps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to rotary engines or rotary pumps and is designed to simplify the construction of the same and to render them more efficient and economical than heretofore. According to the said invention the engine or pump is constructed with a rotary cylinder in which revolves a radial piston or vane extending between the circumference of the said cylinder and an eccentrically-arranged boss or abutment-block, so that dur ing a revolution the effective length of the piston is continually altering. It is a feature of the invention that the said piston or vane has a positive connection both with the wall of the revolving cylinder and also with the hub and that all these three parts revolve to gether in the same direction and that it is from the cylinder that the main shaft is driven. To permit of the revolution of the cylinder, one of the covers thereof is formed by a stationary disk and is fitted into the cylinder, so that its edge or circumference forms a bearing, as it were, for the rest of the cylinder and is suitably packed to render it steam-tight, while permitting of the cylinder revolving thereon.

A further feature of the invention is that the valve is formed by a rotary spindle or plug extending axially from the aforesaid eccentric through the cylinder, showing the internal arrangement of the main parts. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking to the left. Fig. 4 is an end view looking toward the right, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 looking toward theright. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail view of the piston. Fig. 7 is a vertical section analogous to Fig. 3, showing a modification of construction.

As it is well known that most rotary engines can be used interchangeably as pumps, the apparatus will be hereinafter referred to only as a rotary steam-engine, this being its main purpose, though it will be understood that it is not limited in its applicability and that it may be used with any other convenient motive fluid besides steam.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, a is the revolving cylinder, b is the piston or vane, and c is the eccentrically-arranged boss or abutment-block, which at its bottom part forms a practically steam-tight joint at the point 0 with the wall of the cylinder. At one end the cylinder is, as stated, closed by a fixed disk d, which instead of being bolted to it like an ordinary cover is let into it, as shown, and has packing-rings e to prevent escape of steam, the said cover being stationary and the cylinder revolving round it. At its other end the cylinder has a cover f bolted to it and revolving with it, and centrally on this cover is a flanged socket g, in which is secured the shaft h, carrying the belt-pulley f and fly-wheel e", this shaft It being further supported by a separate bearing or journal, if desired. The parts are supported by a frame j, to one side of which the stationary disk of is secured by bolts y", while the other side carries suitable friction-rollers 7c, mounted on studs in, which rollers are pressed against the cover f of the cylinder, the degree of pressure being regulated by the tie-bolts Z at the end of the frame. In this way the disk of and the cylinder a are prevented from coming apart. The frame itself rests on suitable feet The piston 6 extends radially from the boss 0 and is connected at its outer end to the cylinder by any-suitable means. In the example shown a knuckle-joint is employed,

formed bya cylindrical head or beading m on the piston fitting into a corresponding socket or seating n on the cylinder. At its inner end the said piston fits into a diametrical recess or cavity 0 in the boss 0. This recess extends almost through the boss and its mouth is provided with a pair of lining brasses or strips 1) to form a practically steam-tight fit against the piston. The opposite end of the recess 0 is closed by a thin wall of metal, as shown. The effective lengthof the piston depends on the amount which is drawn out of the recess 0, .being greatest in the position shown in Fig. 3 and practically on] at the opposite half of its revolution.

The valve arrangement comprises, as stated, a spindle or plug q, extending axially from and revolving with the boss 0. This valveplug (1 fits in a fixed tubular casing 9 extending from the end plate (Z. In the casing? are two steam-ports s s, the supply to one or other of which can be shut off as desired, according to the direction the engine is working in.

Corresponding ports t are cut in the surface of the rotary plug q and form segmental grooves therein, as shown, their length depending on the duration desired for the steam admission. From these grooves suitable passages u to extend through the plug and the boss and open at o 4) on each side of the piston b.

9' represents packing rings to prevent steam escaping along the surface of the plug 9, and 0" is an end cover to keep the tubular casing 9 closed steam-tight.

8 represents the two steam-supply pipes leading to the ports .9 s. The exhaust-passages, which are also in duplicate, like the inlet-ports s s, are formed in the disk cl, as shown at w w, and each communicates with its own exhaust-pipe 10 It will be readily understood that when the engine is to run one way the pipes r and 20 leading to the steam-port s at one side and the exhaust-ports w at the other side, are only in use, the other two ports, .9 and w, being shut off. The pipes of this latter pair are opened and those of the first p'air shut otf when the engine is reversed.

In some cases the fly-wheel a" may be mounted directly upon the rotary cylinder itself and be secured thereto by suitable arms or spokes, and the belt-pulley might be fixed in the same position, thus dispensing with the extended part of the shaft ]L,'H1Cl so economizing space.

The various arrows indicate the direction in which the parts they are applied to are mov- 1ng.

he action is as follows: When the piston has reached the vertical position Fig. 3, the

space on the left will have already received its charge of steam from the port 8 and passage o) and this steam will have been shut off and expansion will be going on. It will be seen that the pressure will be acting laterally both on the piston 72 and on the boss 0'. The area being much greater above than below the center of the boss, the piston will continue to be forced round and will drive both the cylinder and the boss in the same direction. Owing, however, to the eccentricity, it will be gradually pushed home into the recess 0 and will be nearly home when it passes the '(in this instance) open. exhaust-port w. The

exhaust will then take place; but the piston and cylinder will continue to travel round under the impetus, the parts m and n passing under the boss at the dead-point 0, where it makes contact with the cylinder. Almostimmediately after passing this point the groove 2, will begin to open the steam-port s and live steam will be admitted, say, for a third of a revolution. The port 8 will then be closed and expansion of the steam will commence. The piston and cylinder continuing to travel round, the former will be gradually drawn out until the vertical piston is again reached, after which the piston begins to be pushed inward again, and so on.

It will be readily understood that the variation in the effective length of the piston may be obtained by forming the cavity 0 in the cylinder instead of in the boss 0, the piston being then rigidly connected to the boss 0. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 7, wherein the cylinder a has a hollow enlargement or chamber a of V shape to receive the piston. The mouth of this chamber is provided with a pair of swivelling brasses or jointing-pieces a which fit into seats or bearings a", and thus accommodate themselves to the difi'erent angular positions of the piston b. The shape of the chamber a is also determined by the same consideration, and hence it has inclined sides, as shown. In other respects the arrangement and action are substantially the same as in Figs. 1 to 6. The advantage of this modification, however, is that it enables the size of the boss 0 to be somewhat reduced. In the first -mentioned arrangement the employment of the cavity 0 to take the piston necessitates the boss 0 being more than half the diameter of the cylinder; but in the arrangement shown in Fig. 7 this requirement does not apply, and hence the space saved in the size of the boss can be utilized in increasing the length of the piston, and therefore the power of the engine.

The lubrication may conveniently be effected by a permeatorthat is to say, an arrangement for feeding oil into the steam-supply, so that the steam itself carries the oil to the parts required.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss eccentric to said cylinder, and a piston extending radially from said boss and movable with respect to the cylinder and fixed as to lateral movement with relation to the boss, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss eccentric to said cylinder, a piston extending radially from said boss and movable with respect to the cylinder and fixed as to lateral movement with relation to the boss, and a driving-shaft mounted centrally on said cylinder and driven by the latter, substantially as described.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss eccentric to said rotary cylinder, a piston extending between said parts, and a fixed disk fitting the end of the rotary cylinder and forming both a cover and a bearing therefor, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss eccentric to said cylinder, a piston extending between said parts, a fixed disk on which said cylinder rotates and which forms its end cover, a rotary valve-plug extending through said disk from the rotary boss, and a tubular valve-casing for said plug extending from said disk, substantially as described.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a fixed disk forming both an end cover therefor and also a bearing for it to revolve upon, a supporting-frame to which said disk is fixed, rollers on said frame hearing against the opposite end cover of the cylinder, and means for adjusting the pressure of said rollers on said cylinder, substantially as described.

6. In a rotaryengine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss within and eccentric to said cylinder, a piston radial to said boss, and means for permitting the effective length of said piston to be increased and decreased during its revolution, the piston having a laterally-movable connection with the cylinder and loosely engaging the boss, the piston being also restricted as to lateral movement with respect to the boss, substantially as described.

7. In a.rotary engine, the combination of a rotary cylinder, a rotary boss within and cocentric to said cylinder and having a diametrical cavity therein, and a piston movably engaging the wall of the cylinder and slidingin and out of said boss, the piston being restricted as to lateral movement with relation to the boss, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 23d day of August, 1904:.

SIDNEY JOHN LAWRENCE.

Witnesses:

R. WESTACOTT, ALFRED NUTTING. 

